By Mr. K Sudarshan, EMA Partners
International
Avoid these mistakes
if you want the corner office
Many years ago, I had
recruited a VPSales for one of my clients and I still remember him asking me a
question on what he should do to become a CEO. I had then told him that one of
the things he must do apart from doing a good job is to talk less! It is
another matter that he did go on to become a successful CEO in his company. We
often talk of CEOs having the `X' factor and the ones who don't make it,
lacking the `X' factor.
This `X' factor is as
vague as it can get as a reason for someone making it to the top job.
Essentially this means that there's no proven formula to develop leaders in a
classroom. There's a certain element of natural talent within the individual
which has to be spotted by organizations to provide them the right opportunity
and exposure to groom them.
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| Mr. K Sudarshan, EMA Partners International |
However, despite
being talented and having the right experience for the job, a job interview can
go awry. The company making a decision is taking a leap of faith in your
ability to transition from a line management position to a general management
position. During the interview, it is important to demonstrate your ability to
set the agenda, lead people and having a broader vision for the organization
and the business in its entirety.
Based on my two
decades of recruiting experience and interactions with several candidates,
successful and otherwise, here are some common mistakes made by CEO aspirants
during their interview process:
1. Ambiguity..!
Being specific and an
swering to the point is a big quality and makes for an interesting and
productive conversation. Most interviews happen in fixed time slots and the
interviewer wants to make use of the time to get the right questions in. Your
responses reflect your working style and your ability to address a specific
issue.
Providing hazy
responses to pointed questions especially relating to responsibilities, key
achievements and deliverables on the job don't help the cause.
2. Inflating
achievements..!
Inflating one's role
and impact on the organization is a sure shot recipe for disaster.
Also it is good
practice to own up or acknowledge past mistakes on the job and showcase them as
key takeaways for the future.
3. Casual
approach...!
It starts from your
attire for the meeting. In most cases, depending on the culture of the company,
a blazer would suffice. Your attire demonstrates your seriousness for the
process and respect for the interviewer.
At times, candidates
stroll into an interview without prior research on the company and the
industry.In one instance, a candidate had already ordered for an alcoholic
beverage while waiting to meet the interviewer in a five star hotel.
4. Verbal diarrhea..!
Volunteering
excessive information and show ing undue familiarity with the interviewer
hiring manager is a big putoff. It is always better to maintain a veil of
formality in your interactions with various stakeholders during the process.
For example, inviting
the other party for a drink without giving time for the relationship to develop
is a big no-no.
5. Poor listening
skills...!
Most interviews are
about good listening skills.
It gives you a chance
to understand the role and the company and also not to over-expose yourself
during the early stages of the interview process.
6. Excessive name
dropping...!
While it is good to
demon strate one's network, some candidates resort to indiscriminate name
dropping across the industry.
I remember a
particular instance of a candidate referring a high profile chairman on a first
name basis much to the irritation of the panel.
7. Bad mouthing...!
It is important not
to make negative remarks about past managers and compa nies.
Even if the concerned
individuals or / companies have a bad reputation, maintaining a neutral stance
is better.
8. Getting your
coterie along.!
Some people during
the in terview process, voluntarily offer to bring their teams with them.
This is a red flag
for the hiring organization as they may believe that you could do the same with
them as well. You are also seen as someone building his her own coterie.
9. Visible anxiety..!
Showing undue haste
and anxiety in bagging the position is a clear sign of weakness and hampers
your ability to negotiate a good deal.
Maintaining a
positive and healthy ego right through the interaction will help in positioning
your candidature for the job in a much better fashion and you will come across
as a strong leader.
10. Posturing...!
Some candidates
resort to undue posturing and appear inflexible in their approach. Also at
times, candidates are fussy about issues like class of travel for the
interview, meeting venues and such other things which can portray them as being
high on maintenance.
Avoidable if you are
keen to pursue the opportunity. If you're not keen, it makes sense to politely
turn down the opportunity rather than act difficult and burn bridges.
Good luck!
About the author..
Mr. K Sudarshan is
Managing Partner- India & Regional VP - Asia, EMA Partners International
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